Organizing Community Participation for Flood Management: Effective Responses in An Urban Watershed in Belém (Pará-Brazil) (PAP014428)

Código

PAP014428

Autores

Carla Cristina de Azevedo Sadeck, Aline Maria Meiguins de Lima, Edson Jose Paulino de Rocha, Roselene Garcia, Maissa Ludymilla Carvalho Pontes

Tema

Flood resilient societies through community preparedness

Resumo

Environmental and economic losses during flood events are the result of many factors which make the mitigation more difficult. The goal of this paper is to assess the range of impacts that experiencing recent flooding in Belém (Pará-Brazil) has had on people, their attitudes and behaviors; and to establish which measures work with particular population groups and locations in relation to flood prevention campaigns and flood warning/dissemination systems. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The flood impacts in Belém are generated from both natural and human-made factors. Belém is located on former floodplains, where natural waterways and wetlands were replaced by urban structures. The results showed that floods affected people?s socio-economic livelihoods and critical aspects, such as health, education, housing, water, sanitation, property and assets. The implementation of the recommended measures could be carried out by different instruments and at various levels, such as the engagement of communities in moving permanently to higher grounds; the zoning of non-flood and flood areas; the deployment of systems to warn the populace about the risk; and the preparation of community plans of action explaining what to do in case of flooding. If the flood control devices work for preventing the events, some of the damage should be avoided.